Monthly Archives: March 2012

Observations made during Jefferson Salamander breeding period in a very early spring with unusually high temperatures and after a very mild winter with rain rather than snow fall.

14, 23 & 25 March 2012 observations:

Vernal Pools:

No evidence of salamander egg masses in any of the vernal pools.

Noticed the presence of a finger-nail clam species (Spehariidae) in vernal pools close to Neyagawa Road west of the Neyagawa Forest stream (broadly flooded by stream and road runoff). No evidence of clams was noticed in all other vernal pools (that doesn’t mean they are not there). These clams were present in ponds – see below.

Rain fed only ponds

Pond #1 – Located in the forest close to the eastern edge of the forest at WP 47,

March 14: the presence of at least 30 or more relatively large tadpoles at a prehind leg stage.

Pond #2 (in the open pond located close to the eastern edge of Polygon III at WP P2).

March 25: the presence of at least 20 or more relatively large tadpoles at a pre hind leg stage.

March 25: No egg masses detected in the pond. March 25: Presences of at least 2 newts (Red transforming or Central newt; Notophthalmus viridescens).

March 25: Water snails (not yet identified), Water-striders (Gerridae), Backswimmer bug (Notonectidae), and a large colony of Whirling beetles (Gyrinidae).

Marshes with open water fed by runoff and rain

Central Fen/Marsh in Polygon I at WP 72.

March 14: Except for bacterial “clouds” there was no evidence of amphibian activity.

March 25: Identification of an ant hill within the swamp.

March 25: still no evidence of any amphibian activity.

Polygon V. Marsh complex

WP 74. Slow draining brook off the marsh in Polygon V. Mud chimneys. Non was taller than 2 to 3 inches. Central tube diameter ranges from 15 to 25mm. Two species are possible the Devil Crayfish (Camburus diogenes) or the Digger Crayfish (Fallicambarus fodiens). The habitat of both these species is threatened.

WP 75 3 to 5 Chorus frogs (Psuedacris triseriata) heard in the marsh. WP 76 (boundary of the marsh with the open field to the south east). Evidence of a crayfish chimney.